The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-15
CHAPTER IA MANS Will.

NAAAAAN ; va y NONlAOllGS1R
and his friend Wybert Moss, were
talking about John Pawson, and they
agreed that he was one of the best
men in Swarfton, and they rejoiced at
his prosperity in life.
"He has nothing to trouble him."
said Lumley.
"And plenty of money" replied
Moss, (Which is more than l can say
about myself"
1.-THE same old TALE" was Lumley's
laughing answer, and hehurried away
But John PawsOn had q good deal
to trouble HIM just then, as he often
said to himself when he was alone, for
he had formed the habit OF speaking
his thoughts. and sometimes did so
even in company.
He entered Burtonford's bank when
he wasa boy, and was always a favor
tie with the late Mr.. Anthony Burton
ford. Nobody was surprised when
John PawsOn became a partner; it
was in accordance with the fitness OF
things. But what surprised the pub
lie was that Eric Burtonford, the bank
er's nephew, was sent adrift.
Il would rather be a customer at
the bank than a clerk there" was
what Lumley said to Wybert Moss.
"Old Bu~rtonford is not the best man
in the world to get on with. His tenn
per is all thick and thin. His good
qualities are in great Jumps; but, be-
fore you know where you are, he is
raging and storming like all that"
Wybert Moss said that be knew very
little about bankers, but he would
take his informant's word for it.
Always trust the auctIoneer, IS aid
Lu mley.
Certainly" replied Wybe TT. 81
will trust him with my debts, if he will
take charge of them"
Then there was a laugh, and the
two parted.
The genera opinion in Swarfton was
that Anthony Burtonford had quar-
relied with his nephew, and that
the uncle's temper and Eric's pride
had been both to blame. But Eric
went away from Swarfton, and did
not return even when Mrs. Burton
ford, the bankers wife, died.
"Eric'sin London painting pictures"
said the gossips, land he ought to
have come to the funeral, though he
is not own nephew to Mrs. Burton
ford; but if unele's wife is not kinship
enough the world is coming to a pref
ty state"
So Eric was blamed for his omis-
sion of duty. But the banker
said nothing. He never men
toned his nephew's name, and
never allowed anybody else to do so
in his hearing. 1t was usually thought,
however, that John Pawson was an
exception to this rule, and the coniect-
ure was right; he knew why Eric had
been sent away, and why he did not
appear at the funeral.
Then MI. Burtonford died very sud
denly, and rumor was busy again.
Eric would be sure to come this time,
and he would remain at Swarftonand
take his Uncle's place at the bank.
Picture painting was all very we'll in
its way, but it was not reasonable to
suppose that it could ever be permit
ted to interfere with a bank. More
over, there was Edith Markham, the
late Mrs. Burtonford's niece. Every
body had always said Edith and Eric
were intendedforeac other, and every
body felt that it would be a great
shame if the general expectation were
thwarted.
But the funeral took place and Eric
was not there.
Then by degrees the truth leaked
out about the bankers will. Popular
feeling became divided at once.
Eric Burtonford is no good" said
the Spokesman Of one party. There
is something under the surface which
we have never seen. His uncle has
not left him a brass iarthing. Why
the worst case / ever heard Of before
was not as bad as that. To be cut
off with a shilling is rather stiff, but
to be cut off without anything beats
the record in this kind of business.
The banker has left all he had to
Edith Markham, but if ever she looks
at Eric, or speaks to him, she is to
lose her fortune
"Yon are partly correct" said the
spokeswoman on the other side of
public opinion. HSome of your facts
are wrong, and your differences are
completely SO. We all know that
Burtonford was passionate and
headstrong. Ny opinion is that Eric
only said his soul was his own. But
tthls will does not declare that Edith
is to lose her fortune il she speaks to
Eric; she is not to do so without the
consent OF John Pawson."
Perhaps it is true that rumor IS sell
dom altogether wrong, and newer al
together right. The will Of chs banker
way that, after certain legacies had
heen paid. including q large one to